Dhaka  - Security has been beefed up across Bangladesh amid threats by militants against prominent political leaders running in elections next week, officials said Wednesday.

"The forces have been ordered strictly maintain security across the country," said Police Chief, Noor Mohammad. Threats against two former prime ministers Sheikh Hasina Wajed and Khaleda Zia were not from an organized source, Mohammad said.

Dhaka  - The US government Wednesday warned its citizens of risks when travelling to Bangladesh during the period around the elections slated for December 29,
2008.

"The security situation in Bangladesh can be fluid. US citizens are reminded that even demonstrations intended to be peaceful can quickly and unexpectedly escalate into violence," said a travel advisory issued by the State Department in Washington.

Bangladesh's December 29 election is to return the South Asian nation to democracy, ending two years of the army-backed interim government of Fakhruddin Ahmed under a state of emergency.

Dhaka  - Bangladesh's elite anti-crime Rapid Action Battalion Tuesday captured two suspected militants after a clash in central Comilla district, officials said.

The battalion officials said the criminals hurled a homemade grenade at them when the lawmen raided the den in Debidwar Upazila, some 63 kilometres east of the capital Dhaka, injuring one battalion member. The force retaliated with gunfire wounding several of the militants.

Dhaka - Bangladesh's elite anti-crime Rapid Action Battalion Tuesday captured two suspected militants after a clash in central Comilla district, officials said.

The battalion officials said the criminals hurled a homemade grenade at them when the lawmen raided the den in Debidwar Upazila, some 63 kilometres east of the capital Dhaka, injuring one battalion member. The force retaliated with gunfire wounding several of the militants.

Dhaka  - Bangladesh's government on Monday announced further cuts in the prices of major fuel oils, reacting to recent drops in international oil prices.

The price cuts will range from between 3.75 to 5.13 per cent, depending on the product. Items affected include diesel, kerosene, octane and petrol. The new prices take effect at midnight Monday (1800 GMT).

The cut is a "temporary adjustment" to match the recent fall in international oil prices to below 40 dollars a barrel, said M Tamim, a junior energy minister.

London, Dec 18 : Hamayra Abedin, a doctor working with Britain's National Health Service (NHS), who was held captive by her parents in Bangladesh, has said that she was forced to marry a stranger against her will.

Abedin was held captive by her parents who disapproved of her Hindu boyfriend and was forced to marry against her will during her four months in captivity enlarge, The Independent reported

The 33-year-old doctor, who flew back to Britain this week after a court in Dhaka ordered her release, said her parents had picked out a man and made her marry him at a Muslim wedding in November.